At Home Detox vs. a Drug Detox Facility

People with drug dependencies are often searching for ways to combat their addictions, but only some of these people are truly committed to the process. When it comes to the treatment of hardcore chemical addictions, the best forms of treatments are usually found at detox facilities. There are some people with minor abuse issues that can stop taking the substance on their own, but the majority of addicts need professional guidance to break free of drugs.

If you have developed an addiction, the drug has likely become accessible in your everyday surroundings. In order to beat the addiction, it might be necessary to break from those surroundings until you complete a treatment program. When you submit to a licensed detox facility, you are placing yourself in the care of treatment specialists who know how to handle chemical dependency. This is crucial when you undergo the process of withdrawal, because a professional detox program will shield you from the drugs that might otherwise tempt you into a relapse.

Addictions That Are Hard to Break Independently

Drugs that are highly addictive can be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to break free of on your own. The prospects for cold turkey withdrawal from prescription painkillers or heroin are grim, to say the least. In fact, attempting to detox from these substances on your own can be dangerous and even lead to death.

In its report on cocaine addiction, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) notes how the drug was responsible for 13 percent of admissions to treatment centers during 2007. More troubling, however, are the biological factors of cocaine addiction, which make the drug so hard to quit. Since there are no medicines that have been proven to treat cocaine addiction, the NIDA encourages the following four treatment models:

  • Contingency management: A system that rewards vouchers and incentives to patients who stay drug-free
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy: Teaches patients how to identify and avoid the situations in which drug use is most likely to occur
  • Therapeutic communities: Places where patients stay for six to 12 months and adapt to a drug-free regimen
  • Community-based recovery groups: This is the model for most 12-step and group therapy programs

Addictions That Urgently Need Treatment

A study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration states that heroin and other opioids accounted for 77 percent of treatment admissions during 2003. Admissions for stimulants came in second at 16 percent, of which 44 percent were handed over by the criminal justice system. With all things considered, hardcore drug addiction clearly leads to dangerous behavior in both the physical and legal sense.

While an addict may feel confident in his or her own willpower, addiction isn’t a matter of self-control. Though it might be difficult for the addict, the conquest of an addiction starts through the self-realization of one’s shortcomings. Most addicts need professional help in order to successfully achieve sobriety.

Seeking Help for an Addiction

If an addiction has come to bear upon your life, it is best to seek professional help for the problem at hand. The initial use may have been due to poor judgment in the moment, but chemical factors have since taken hold that are far beyond the grasp of willpower. Call us at Axis to learn more about our treatment programs and how we can help you triumph over the addiction in your life.

Further Reading